Ear Laceration Injury Compensation

Can I claim ear laceration injury compensation if my friend’s dog caused the injury when I was playing with it?

Eoin P. Campbell, LL.B., Solicitor

Editor in Chief

You may be able to claim ear laceration injury compensation if it can be proven that your friend, the dog owner, acted negligently. For example, he allowed the dog to interact with humans when it has a history of aggression, or if the injury could have been prevented if the dog had been wearing a muzzle. It should be noted, however, that a claim can only be made if your friend has owner’s insurance or is covered by a household policy.

It is important that you sought immediate medical assistance following the accident to have the laceration treated professionally, as the date entered in your medical history will act as proof that the accident did indeed happen and this information is essential in an ear laceration injury compensation claim. You should have taken photographs of the injury, which can also be used as evidence.

To further support your claim you should have reported the accident to the local Garda station where it could be found that the dog has been involved in similar incidents. In addition, you should have collected the details of any witnesses.

You would be well advised to seek the assistance of a solicitor when pursuing your ear laceration injury compensation claim, even if you have not carried out all of the procedures mentioned above. Most solicitors offer a free initial consultation where they can answer any questions you have regarding your individual case and he or she can advise whether or not you have a viable claim.